7. “The Dying Clown.” A most dramatic and tragic conception, which shows that Seymour would have been invaluable later on for Dickens’ more serious work. The chief differences are in the face of the man at his bedside and the candle.
8. “Mr. Pickwick in Search of his Hat.” The drawing of Mr. Pickwick’s legs is rather strange. The right leg could hardly be so much twisted back while Mr. Pickwick runs
straight forward; his left hand or arm is obscure in both. All the faces differ—the hat in b has much more the look of being blown along than that in a.
9. “Mr. Winkle Soothes a Refractory Steed.” Seymour’s horse is infinitely more spirited and better drawn than Phiz’s. Its struggling attitude is admirable. Seymour’s landscape is touched more delicately; the faces differ in both.
10. “The Cricket Match.” First Buss plate. He introduced a farcical incident not in the text—the ball knocking off the fielder’s hat, who is quite close to the batsman. A very poor production. Observe the “antediluvian” shape of the bat—no paddings on the legs. The sketch is valuable as showing how not to interpret Dickens’ humour, or rather how to interpret it in a strictly literal way—that is, without humour.
11. “Tupman in the Arbour.” Second Buss plate—rather ostentatiously signed “Drawn and etched by R. W. Buss.”
Tupman appears to be tumbling over Miss Wardle.
12. The same subject by “Phiz.” A remarkable contrast in treatment; there is the suggestion of the pair being surprised. We see how the fat boy came on them. The old Manor Farm in the background, with its gables, etc., is a pleasing addition, and like all “Phiz’s” landscapes, delicately touched in. The scared alarm on the two faces is first-rate—even Miss Wardle’s foot as well as Tupman’s is expressive. There appears to be no “variation” of this plate.
13. “The Influence of the Salmon.” A truly dramatic group overflowing with humour. Note no fewer than ten faces in the background, servants, etc., all expressing interest according to their class and degree. The five chief characters express drunkenness in five different fashions: the hopeless, combative, despairing, affectionate, etc. Wardle’s stolid calm is good.
14. “The Breakdown.” This was “Phiz’s”